Category Archives: Tips/DIY

It’s my favorite mask for summer because it deals with dehydration, irritation, shiny skin and pretty much everything. The DIY is super easy and super simple because everybody probably already have those three ingredients. If not, you should because they are all super healthy as well. Did I mention it also doubles as a wonderful breakfast? but, let’s stick to skincare right now. Here’s why they are great applied topically:

Oats – it contains saponins, a natural cleanser that removes dirt and oil from pores without causing irritation. It is packed with antioxidants, essential minerals and vitamins, like vitamin E, beta glucan, avenanthramides etc. All of which help to heal and moisturize the skin, reduce inflammation, irritation and itchiness.

Honey – it was talked about in great details in a previous post. Basically it is moisturizing, anti-aging since it contain antioxidants, clarifying/purifying due to enzyme and it have anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties.

Any one of those ingredients is already wonderful when applied by itself and they are all edible so it’s ok if you freestyle the ratio a bit or decide to microwave the leftover to eat. But if you do plan to use it as a mask multiple times, as always with all DIY, make sure to sanitize all containers/utensils, use purest ingredients possible or clean then thoroughly, and keep the final product sealed/refrigerated when not in use. Continue reading DIY Hydrating Mask: Honey, Yogurt and Oats→

Somehow or another, I ended up taking a month long break from blogging. Fall is the time when REALLY good deals comes in. 40% off! Holiday set for cheap! I want anything and everything! With that said, I’ve accumulate so much beauty products that it becomes overwhelming and it’s making me stressed instead of happy. I spent hundreds on beauty products every year. If it doesn’t make me happy, that’s a problem. To detox and jump into the holiday sale without overspending on unnecessary stuff, I decided to clean, declutter and organize first. Perhaps Amazon read my mind, since it recommended this book to me.

If you know exactly how you want your space to look, how you want to put/organize things and have no problem throwing things out, you may not need this book. If you are like me, where you keep getting stuck over whether to throw things out, where to keep things, and feels overwhelmed to the point where you either want to throw everything out or give up on the growing pile….. this book will be great for you. I didn’t throw out half of my house and it took me a few weeks, but it addressed all the excuses I keep telling myself and offered advice on how to tidying up efficiently. In this post, I’ll focus on my favorite tips that are the most helpful when I was decluttering my beauty stash. Continue reading Tidying up your beauty products! My 3 favorite tips→

I made rosewater! Rose’s reputation in skincare is well-earned, and I blogged about its benefit as well as some rose sheet masks in the post here. I first made rosewater and posted on BeautyTalk 3 years ago. I’ve tried many rose products, and most of them were lovely, but there’s just something so wonderful about pure, freshly made rosewater that most skincare are unable to replicate. The most time-consuming part of the DIY is to thoroughly wash all the rose petals, so make sure to set aside a few hours for this.

First of all, as with all DIY, use the cleanest/safest ingredients and sanitize everything! Since you are putting it on your face, make sure to use roses without pesticides/chemicals. Wash all the pots, bottles, and tools you plan to use thoroughly. If you take care to be sanitary while making it and store it in the fridge, it lasted over a month before the color started to change a bit. It worked wonderfully as a toner, facial spray or even impromptu sheet masks! Continue reading DIY Rosewater!→

Today’s blog post is a special one from the awesome Lylysa!!! Before I had a blog, I pretty much lived on BeautyTalk, and my favorite person for makeup and skincare discussion is Lylysa. She’s got so much great information that I’ve always thought it’s a shame that she didn’t have a blog. Hundreds of email chats later, I finally asked if she would like to be my guest blogger and share her skincare knowledge with us. So without further ado, I’ll hand it off to the first guest blogger of ChicDabbling, Lylysa!

Hello there, WordPress world! I want to thank my dear friend ChicDabbler for allowing me to write as a guest blogger on her page. As she mentioned, her and I first met through the wonderful outlet of Sephora’s forum known as BeautyTalk and right away, her affinity for skin care and beauty struck a chord with me. I’m perhaps most known in Beauty Talk for my elaborate posts and break-downs regarding all things beauty and I’m very grateful for being allowed the opportunity to share my knowledge on a new platform!

This will be part 1 of of a 5 post series dedicated to breaking-down skin care regimens! My focus will be to cover what may typically go into constructing a skin care regimen (or routine) by detailing out formulas and product types per each step, and by doing so, hopefully give some insight as to aid anyone reading who may be questioning what they may actually need or want to incorporate.

Cleansers will generally be the first step in a regimen because they will aid in creating a “blank slate” so that the products used after aren’t hindered by traces of oil, bacteria, pollutants, and any grime that skin may have at its surface. While cleansers today come packed with beneficial ingredients to treat and nourish skin, it’s still a product that gets washed down the drain, so try not to bank on them solely to obtain dramatic results in skin care. Cleansing use to be based on a “twice a day” concept (morning and night); however, many folks don’t require a morning cleansing. Unless you wake and skin is slicked with oil and heavy with shine, forego the cleansing step in the day time and move to a refreshing mist or even treatment then your SPF/moisturizer. Even though oil production doesn’t stop as you sleep, waking up a bit dewy isn’t cause for alarm or to break out a heavy-duty cleanser, even if you’re using a gentle cleanser, over-cleansing isn’t going to do your skin any favors. In fact, doing so can cause skin to either dry out or overcompensate for the rapid loss in oil by over-producing oil as the day continues and then you’ll have a new issue on your hands. If the idea of not washing your skin in the morning is just repelling and you may not have any want or need for a facial mist, feel free to just rinse with cool or lukewarm water or wipe down with a damp wash cloth. Continue reading Regimens & Routines, What Makes Skin Care Go ‘Round – Part 1→

Work kicked my butt in May and I got sick, which means I barely tried any skincare but plowed through my tea stash like there’s no tomorrow. I usually drink loose leaf green tea or floral tea since the cheap ones in teabag usually contains too many chemicals, and the fruit flavors taste artificial. However, I happened by Teavanna one day and fell in love with their fruit teas. Last year I happen to came upon David’s Tea and decided to try them. It’s similar to Teavanna, but I like the fact that their tea containers have a compartment on top with samples of the tea to let you see/sniff. Teavanna opens the whole jar to let you sniff, so when you buy in store, your tea may have been sniffed by who knows how many people. Maybe that is why Teavanna teas are not as flavorful as David’s Tea.

I left with just a little packet of matcha, which comes in a zip lock bag and keeps the flavor much better than Teavanna’s paper bag. I had the matcha for about 3-4 months before it starts to lose its color/flavor. So I went back and ordered a variety of fruity low-caffeine tea. Now that I’ve tried (and finished) most of them, thanks to being sick, it looks like a good time for a speed review. I ordered the cute starry teapot above from David’s Tea website, and you get to choose 3 tea samples with every online purchase, so I’ll review these first:

I was traveling last month, and end up sitting next to a friendly nurse practitioner on the train. She was a primary care nurse practitioner for over a decade and we had an interesting conversation about supplements. Even though my first foray into supplement was positive, with HUM’s Daily Cleanse and Flatter Me, I’m still a bit paranoid and skeptical, so I asked her a few questions.

What type of vitamin deficiency do you see most in your patients? Vitamin D, most people she tested are either deficient or at the lower limit. People don’t get enough sun nowadays and fortified food is not enough.

Is it possible to overdose on supplements? If the supplement is water soluble (vitamin B and C), then when you overdose you just pee it out so no worries. The fat soluble ones (vitamin A, D, E and K) tend to stay in your system so it is possible, although she has never seen a case of vitamin overdose. Supplements are fine as long as you follow instructions.

We did agree that not everyone needs vitamins. If you eat fresh fruits and veggies in a variety of colors and is active/get enough sun, then you are probably fine. Also, remember this is just accounts from one person’s work experience. Anyways, my latest foray into supplements was HUM Nutrition’s Runway Ready, which consists of Red Carpet with vitamin E and Killer Nail with biotin. It seemed to have done something good for my skin/hair, so I thought I’d share.

Red Carpet and Killer Nail are packaged together, I did not try them separately to see which one is for what. According to their description: “Red Carpet formula consists of GLA, ALA, and Vitamin E, naturally sourced and potently formulated, in a soft gel capsule made of red algae. Made from bio-available nutrients in Black Currant and Sunflower Seeds, Red Carpet’s healthy essential fats support glamorous hair and glowing skin. Killer Nails supports longer, stronger nails & hair. Killer Nails is packed with 5000 mcg of Biotin in a pure, high potency vegan formula. ” Continue reading Want good hair and stronger nails? A HUM Nutrition review→

When I was a teen, I had greasy skin and hated anything glowy, dewy, or luminous. A decade later, my skin is a lot drier and I’ve realized that greasy oily skin is not the same as dewy glowing skin. I started the blog to keep track while searching for my holy grail products. Hundreds of products later, I have found some essentials, and learned a lot about skincare along the way. My journey is by no means complete, but The Glossier‘s beauty essentials challenge inspired me to share my philosophy and essentials so far on the blog. Glossier is a beauty brand that focuses on simple beauty products with good ingredients. I haven’t tried their products before, but their blog Into The Gloss is one of my favorite with clean layout and good contents. But anyways, skincare! First of all —

Never skip skincare at night.

Even if you don’t wear makeup, all the dirt, bacteria and oil from the day can clog your pores, not to mention the environmental stress that ages the skin. Your body also repairs itself during sleep so it is especially important to do your skincare before bed. After all, you can either spend hundreds on anti-aging skincare later, or take advantage of your body’s natural repair and renewal process by doing your skincare every night. Another bonus for me is that the skincare routine helps me to relax and unwind at end of the day. And wouldn’t you rather waking up to healthy glowing skin rather than dirty dry skin?

One product that really helped to make sure I do skincare at night is Koh Gen Do Cleansing Water. I’ve tried dozens of makeup removers in liquid, water, oil and balm form and this is one of the best. It’s no rinse so you can use it anywhere anytime, to fix your makeup during the day, before cleansing, or half asleep in bed at night. It leaves the skin feeling clean, comfortable and hydrated. I don’t recall ever going to bed without washing my face, thank to the bottle of cleansing water I keep by my bedside. On days where I’m too tired or busy, I would just do cleansing water, moisturizer, and sleep. I’ve actually got more bottles than pictured lying around with liquid in it for traveling. And speak of traveling — Continue reading Skincare Musts and Essentials!→

*Spritz* Spritz*…..*breathe*…..mmmm! Nothing perks me up like a good facial spray, especially after a nap or when you are feeling dry. I’ve tried plenty of facial sprays, and there’s no way I’m getting on a plane without my Tatcha Mist. But for just everyday use, I’m willing to give DIY a try. The only thing you need for a basic facial spray is: spray bottle, water and glycerin. What else you add is up to your fancy. I decided to add some aloe vera and facial oil. I was surprised at how lovely the result was! I feel refreshed and my skin felt soft and hydrated. I’m already on my 2nd bottle actually, definitely recommend!Continue reading DIY facial spray. Oh so simple, oh so good!→

Right before the new year, I opted for a shoulder length bob instead of the ponytail I’ve sported for over a decade and resolved to take better care of my hair. However, haircare is something I’ve severely neglected until recently and I don’t know much about it. Coincidentally, I manage to struck up a conversation with someone from Madison Reed (heard great things about their hair coloring products) so I pelted them with questions about everything. This post is a combination of what I learned from Madison Reed and my own experience (focusing on oily scalp and thinning hair).

Healthy hair starts with healthy scalp!

I used to have thick, shiny hair and oily scalp as a teen so I used a harsh shampoo trying to take care of the oil. But then I ended up with even more oily scalp but dry and fragile hair. Instead, what I should have done is to use gentler shampoo to keep my hair healthy, and shampoo more often to keep my scalp clean. Harsh cleansing agents in your shampoo can damage the hair strands (especially if you shower often or have colored hair) as well as strip your scalp of moisture, that’s why sulfate-free options are recommended.With that said, if you are washing too often due to an oily scalp or product build up instead of dirty hair, it might be better to use a scalp treatment instead. For oily scalp, I found Apple Cider Vinegar rinse to work better than any clarifying shampoo or scalp treatment. Not only does it helps to detangle my hair, it reduces my scalp’s oil production so I can go a few days longer without shampooing. There are also plenty of scalp oils but I find those to be better for dry scalp instead. If you use a lot of products or have a lot of build up, you might want an exfoliating shampoo or scalp exfoliator (my favorite is Aveda Exfoliating Shampoo). However, be cautious when using them on color-treated hair and sensitive scalps since they can be a bit stripping.

While cooking yesterday, one of the egg was stuck to the cartoon and cracked when I tried to pull it out. I’ve got two options: cook it anyways, or finally try that DIY mask I’ve been putting on the back burner. Guess which option I chose? Hint: this is not a post about how to cook your eggs, at least I don’t think this recipe will be very tasty. I’ve come across DIY face masks with egg whites but it never piqued my interest. Things like eggs, avocado and fruits are stuff I’d rather eat than put on my face. But, I figured why not try it once?

Egg, or more specifically egg white, is a popular ingredients in skincare DIY. Egg whites are high in collagen, protein and vitamin A, which helps with skin elasticity and is great for sensitive or aging skin. It also contains enzymes that kill acne-causing bacteria so it is good for pores, oily and acne prone skin as well (but I think that depends more on what other ingredients you pair it with). I have a bit of breakout going on, so I went with a mask for acne-prone skin. Continue reading Yes to eggs? DIY mask for acne, white/blackheads and pores.→